Folding chair



(NO Model.)

J. W. BOWEN.

FOLDING. CHAIR.

No. 441,466. Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

JOHN IV. KOW'EN, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,466, dated November25, 189 0.

' Application filed March 5,1890. Serial No. 342,752. (No model) To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that L-JOHN I/V. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at J acksonville, in the county of Morgan and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingChairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding chairs; and it consistsin certain novel features hereinafter pointed out.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1is a front elevation of my improved chair. Fig. 2 is a side view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a view showing the chair as it appears when folded. Fig.4 is a vertical section of the chair.

The chair-seat A is composed of the side bars B B and the cross-bars C0, connecting the front and rear ends of the same, and it is providedwith the cover or rest D, of any preferred material. The side bars areprovided with the longitudinal slots E, having the short lateralbranches or notches F at their rear ends, and above and below theseslots the side bars are provided on their outer sides with thelongitudinal ribs or projections G G, between which the latch,hereinafter referred to, Works.

The legs H I of the chair are of the usual or any preferredconstruction, and the front legs H are pivoted at their upper ends tothe front ends of the side bars B B, while the rear legs I are similarlypivoted at their upper ends to the rear ends of the said side bars.

The back J is composed of the side bars K, having their lower endspivoted to the rear ends of the side bars B, and the cross-bars Lsecured to and extending between the said side bars to strengthen thechair and furnish a support for the back of the person using the chair.

M designates a latch, which is arranged between and guided by thelongitudinal ribs on the outer sides of the side bars of the seat, and Ndesignates braces, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the innerside of the front legs and at their inner upper ends to the front endsof the latches by pins. The rear end of the latch is turned slightlyupward, and is provided with the hook O,adapted steadily and firmly.

to engage the crank-arms P on the ends of the rock-shaft or lever Q,mounted inthe side bars B, and thereby lock the chair in its raisedposition. This locking-lever or rockshaft is journaled in the sidebarsB, as shown, and as will be readily understood, and is provided at itsouter ends with the crank-arms P and at its central portion with theforwardly-projecting handle or lever-arm R, which is arranged under theseat and terminates near the front edge of the same.

S designates braces, which are pivoted at their upper ends to the backand at their lower ends to the latches, near the rear ends of the same,by pins, which pass through the slots E and move along the said slots.

T designates braces, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the rearlegs and at their upper ends to the latches by the same pins as thebraces S, as clearly shown.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my device beingthus made known, the operation and advantages of the same are thought tobe obvious. \Vhen the chair is arranged for use, the pivot-pin of therear braces is thrown upward into the notch at the end of the slot E,and is held in engagement therewith by the crank-arms on thelocking-lever being turned upward against the hooks at the rear ends ofthe latches. The

latches will thus be prevented from falling, and the pins held in thenotches and consequently prevented from having any endwise movement, sothat the chair will stand up When itis desired to fold'the chair, thelever or rock-shaft is vibrated so as to swing the crank-arms at therear ends of the same out of engagement with the latches, thuspermitting the rear ends of the same to fall, thus disengaging the pinfrom the notch in the side bar of the chair. The said pin can now movealong the slot, and the chair is folded by simply swinging the frontedge of the seat and the upper edge of the back toward each other, whenthe pivotal connections of the other parts will cause them to foldtogether, as shown, and as will be readily understood.

My improved chair is very simple in its construction, is composed ofcomparatively few parts, and is consequently not liable to be IOO easilyinjured, and furnishes a device which can be readily folded into acompact form when not in use, and when in use presents a firm and strongsupport for the person.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and'desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the seat, the latches mounted on the sides of theseat, the back and legs pivoted to the seat, and the braces pivoted tothe latch and to the legs and back, as set forth.

2. The combination of the seat, the legs and back pivoted thereto, thelatches mounted on the sides of the seat, the braces pivoted to the backand legs and to the latch, and a locking-lever or rock-shaftniounted inthe seat and engaging the latch, as set forth.

3. The combination of the seat having its side bars provided with slotshaving notches at their ends, the legs and back pivoted to the seat, thelatches mounted on the sides of the seat, the braces pivoted to thelatches and the front legs, and the braces pivoted to the rear legs andthe back and having a 00111- mon pivot-pin connecting them to thelatches, said pin being adapted to move along the slots in the side barsof the seat and engage the notchesat the ends of the same, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN \V. BOVVEl llitnesses:

S A. FAIRBANK, (JHAs. A. BARNES.

